Sandra Hansen (Iowa Campus Compact) and Dee Dee Rasmussen (Florida Campus Compact) joined Devon Bates (National Office) in Washington DC to make calls on several congressional representatives and attend meetings of Voices for National Service and Service-Learning United.

They visited with Senator Kennedy’s staff to discuss proposed legislation for after-school and experiential teaching fellows, and improving linkages between No Child Left Behind and programs in the Corporation for National and Community Service. They discussed the President’s proposed cuts to Learn and Serve America (LSA), an important program to our work, with Senator Harkin’s committee staff. Sandra met with the Senator personally at a breakfast for fellow Iowans. They also visited with Congresswoman Woolsey’s staff to spread news of our work and our funding issues on the Hill.

State Education Commissioners were in DC attending meetings this week as well and we connected with representatives from CA, IA, and MS. These connections are important in strengthening contacts with Congressional staff and working together to increase funding for key service-learning and national service programs. Senator Clinton and Representatives Shays, Matsui and Salazar received awards at the Voices for National Service Reception. Sandra and Dee Dee personally connected with Senator Clinton.

In the coming weeks, we will be presenting action plans to address cuts by the President’s proposed budget for FY 08. Below is a summary of the proposed cuts.

Photos from Dee Dee Rasmussen, Florida Campus Compact

Fiscal Year 08 Appropriations

On Monday, February 5, the White House released their budget for fiscal year 2008, which recommended $828.6 million for the Corporation for National and Community Service. The recommendation is 6.3 percent below the $884.1 million included in the FY 07 Continuing Resolution.

The Administration proposes for FY08:

• AmeriCorps State and National: $255.6M — 3% cut from FY06, 18% cut since FY04 high
• National Service Trust: $122.5M — 11% cut from FY06, 14% cut since FY05 high
• AmeriCorps NCCC: $11.6M — 57% cut from FY06 high
• Learn and Serve America: $32.1M — 13% cut from FY06, 25% cut from FY05
• Senior Corps: $204.4M — 6% cut from FY06 high

There are some carry over funds available for use in FY 08: $7.5M for the NCCC and $8M for AmeriCorps State and National. But it is being proposed that after this year, the Corporation move from 2 year funding to 1 year funding. One year of obligational authority will eliminate fiscal year carryover.

Other programmatic changes proposed in the budget:

• Learn and Serve: Program would be permitted to use a portion of its funds for purposes other than grants “to further its goals.” (This further reduces available programatic Learn and Serve funds.)
• NCCC: Operations will be run on three campuses v. five. Focus (75%) will be on disaster relief and emergency preparedness. Cost per member will be reduced to $16,000. Summer program for 250 members (ages 14-17) will be added.
• AmeriCorps State and National: Creates 2,600 new quarter time positions. Cost per MSY (Member Service Year) reduced to $9,129.

There are also several interesting pieces of legislation in various stages of development:

• Interior appropriations bill for the Healthy Forest Restoration Act Public Land Corps
• “Summer of Service” for middle school students (Service Learning)
• Teaching Fellows for after-school programs (Senator Kennedy — No Child Left Behind)
• Congressional Commission on service to examine the idea of compulsory service
• Recreate the Civilian Conservation Corps within CNCS
• Create a Public Service Academy (Senator Clinton)